Judo as a Method of Moral and Psychological Development

Abstract

This research is aimed at proving the moral and psychological effects of judo activities on children in the project "Judo in schools" in Croatia. There are numerous studies on the impact of judo on children in the segment of psychological imputations but very few studies have been associated with the impact on moral development. Frequent emphasis on the notion of morality in judo theory and its impact on man has created a disparity between the proven arguments about such influence and what is propagated in the judo community. The research covers the historical connection between warrior skills and morals in different geographical and culturological environments and focuses on Japan and Japanese martial arts culture. The research brings an analysis of the conditions and reasons for the emergence of judo with its specifics of modernization of Japan but also its militarization. The research explains the connection between different written warrior codes and the moral behaviour of samurai-oriented warriors and the Bushido warrior code. The impact and development of martial arts in Japan was explained through Jigoro Kano who was shown through his educational and martial arts development with which he created the Kodokan Judo system. The various influences of the philosophers, psychologists and sociologists of the time who influenced the education of Jigoro Kano and who directed him towards discovering and using the values of martial arts are explained. Kodokan judo has thus become a leading martial art that has promoted the goal of training the development of maximum physical, mental, intellectual, and moral qualities in man and as such his social community must benefit the most. The link between the impact of judo practice on man and the elucidation of the mechanism responsible for behaviour are explained through the presentation of various examples of judo activities. Emotions, emotional intelligence, emotion regulators, self-control, and rule-following behaviour are key mechanisms that are explained in research as part of the chain responsible for human behaviour. By selecting the target group of respondents who practice judo in approximately the same conditions in the biological, cultural, educational and judo segments, the research was conducted through testing through Emotional Skills and Competence Questionnaire (ESCQ). The questionnaire used was proven in other countries and all the required parameters are identical to the official norms for emotional measurements in Croatia, which increases the accuracy of the comparison of results. By testing different environments in which the Judo project is implemented in schools, results were obtained that showed certain emotional values between the population practicing judo and the prescribed norms for children of the same biological age. The obtained results showed the largest difference in the segments concerning the naming and expression of emotions, and in the segment of emotion management and regulation. This confirms the presence of the influence of judo activities on the emotional mechanisms responsible for behaviour through the self-control factor. Emotional mechanisms that are maximally activated during exercise in situations where aggression is present and that such conditions quickly return to normal due to developed emotional regulators, are responsible for human behaviour. A person who has developed a mechanism of emotional control that manifests itself in behaviour as selfcontrol and a better ability to follow the rules, has a greater predisposition to follow the rules in other life situations. During the research on the topic of moral development through judo, many activities were initiated by researchers whose implementation contributed to the development of awareness and value of moral and psychological influences of judo on children. Several European projects have been launched on the topic of norms of behaviour and moral judo values. Several publications have been published and educational cartoons have been made as well as documentaries and reports promoting the moral judo code. The project of the Judo Moral Code was recognized throughout Croatia during the global pandemic, when children were provided with various educational materials on the topic of the Judo Code. The research has stimulated several scientific papers that have further deepened the knowledge in this field. It is definite that the research will continue to be conducted continuously by the same researcher in collaboration with all educational and scientific institutions, the National Judo Federation as well as the International Judo Federation.